Polymyalgia rheumatica is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in older adults. Typical symptoms include moderate-to-severe muscle pain and stiffness, particularly affecting the neck, shoulders, thighs and hips.
Symptoms may include muscle pain (myalgia) and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, lower back, hips, and/or thighs. The lower arms, hands, lower legs, and feet (distal extremities) are not usually affected by this disorder.
The most common symptom of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is pain and stiffness in the shoulders, neck and hips, which develops quickly over a few days or weeks. Both sides of the body are usually affected. The stiffness is often worse first thing in the morning after you wake up.
The pain and stiffness from polymyalgia rheumatica is often widespread, and is worse when resting or after rest. Symptoms can improve with activity or as the day goes on. The pain may also wake you at night. It's also common to feel unwell or to have a slight fever, and you may lose weight.
refined carbohydrates, such as white bread or white rice. fried foods, such as french fries. sugary drinks. processed meats, such as salami or hotdogs.
With treatment, PMR symptoms usually lessen or go away within days. Without treatment, they may go away after a year but could take up to five years or more.
Up to 1 in 5 people with polymyalgia rheumatica develop a more serious condition called temporal arteritis (also known as giant cell arteritis), where the arteries in the head and neck become inflamed.
The average age of onset is 70. And whereas fibromyalgia is chronic, often lasting a lifetime, polymyalgia usually resolves itself within two years.
Most leg pain results from wear and tear or overuse. It also can result from injuries or health conditions in joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine.
Make an appointment with your health care provider if:
You have pain during or after walking. You have swelling in both legs. Your pain gets worse. Your symptoms don't get better after a few days of treating them at home.
Body aches can result from tiredness or exercise and commonly occur with infections such as the flu. But, they can also be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as fibromylagia, arthritis, or lupus.
Exercise or Physical Therapy Can Help
Start slow and easy. Getting the body moving, even with low-impact activities, is better than rest for many people with polymyalgia rheumatica.
Some people are prescribed immunosuppressant medicine, such as methotrexate. It's used to suppress the immune system, the body's defence against infection and illness. It may help people with polymyalgia rheumatica who have frequent relapses or do not respond to normal steroid treatment.
The inflammation may be caused by immune system abnormalities or genetic factors. Polymyalgia may also be result of stress and fatigue and the ageing process. Polymyalgia is typically experienced in the shoulders, hips, neck upper arms and upper legs. Other symptoms include fatigue, depression and loss of appetite.
Polymyalgia rheumatica is usually treated with a low dose of an oral corticosteroid, such as prednisone (Rayos). You'll likely start to feel relief from pain and stiffness within the first two or three days.
Exercise, such as cycling and swimming, can help loosen stiff muscles and joints, while also promoting better bone health, body weight, blood circulation, and sleep. Yoga and tai chi can provide flexibility to help improve PMR joint and muscle symptoms.
Infections, traumatic injuries or sudden shocks such as bereavement or a period of high stress can trigger the onset of polymyalgia rheumatica.
Since the main symptom of polymyalgia rheumatica is inflammation, it is extremely important to avoid foods that could worsen that. Foods that have been known to cause inflammation include fried foods, refined carbohydrates (like white bread), processed meat, and alcohol.
Low levels of either can lead to muscle cramps from PMR – magnesium supplements help. As with all supplements, you should run them by your doctor or pharmacist. I've found it helpful to keep a daily pain and dosage log.
Without treatment, PMR does not get better. However, low doses of corticosteroids (such as prednisone, 10 to 20 mg per day) can markedly ease symptoms, often within a day or two. The dose should then be slowly reduced to a very low level. Treatment needs to continue for 1 to 2 years.
Without movement or exercise, the muscles are weakened and deprived of a steady supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients. This, in turn, can lead to muscle pain.
If you don't have a fever or other symptoms, and you experience body aches often or for prolonged periods of time, make an appointment with your PCP. It could be a sign of a drug reaction or a more severe and chronic underlying medical condition, such as an autoimmune disease.